Sea-bean Saturday

I finally found a sea-bean!

Whenever I walk the beaches on Oronsay, I keep my eye out for sea-beans. Also known as drift-seeds, sea-beans are seeds or fruits that have been carried out to sea after falling from trees or vines which grow along tropical shores. I love imagining where this one could have come across the ocean from. Somewhere a lot warmer that's for sure. Jamaica perhaps? Sea-beans often float due to an internal air pocket within the seed. So pleased to finally find one!

Otter

Three chough going bananas this afternoon announced the presence of this otter.

I've spent a lot of time on Oronsay trying to spot otters so views like this are really awesome - Managed to get this short video. Had the dogs with me so was trying to make sure they didn't disturb it.

"Aw please let me chase it"

These three chough were less than impressed with the otter and were mobbing it ferociously from the wall. 

The otter started going into rabbit warrens after it went over the hill. This surprises a lot of people, but otters will often hunt on land. I've seen them hunting around rabbit warrens a couple of times in the past month, very easy meal. 

Ongoing winter storms

The weather is again the hot topic, well… cold topic really. It has been back to back storms the last week now. Plenty of hail storms and snow. But also intermittent blue skies.

The wind has been the consistent element. Strong!

We had brilliant views of a pair of golden eagles from the yard while bedding out the calves on Monday.

The male bird is the one of the left - Smaller than the female.


We put new bedding out for the calves every couple of days. The bales of bedding are incredibly good quality this year thanks to a very dry cutting period back in September. It’s more like hay really. Great system so we don’t have to buy in any bales. All Oronsay cut.

Glad to have the fire going tonight!

2015

Been back to my folks in Cornwall for Christmas but was back on Oronsay for NYE. The drive back proved arduous in all the holiday traffic but Scotland provided some fantastic scenery in the last few hours of the drive.

So long for now mainland!

I was hoping to catch some of the meteor shower last night. It was clear skies to start with and the near full moon was huge.

Dawn was rather spectacular this morning.

Really interesting find on the beach today -  A trigger fish. Check out those teeth!

This kestrel has been around the farm the last few weeks.

Happy tup.